BJP’s north Bengal ‘focus’ tells in violence - Clash in Siliguri with police, one death cited

 

Police remove a BJP supporter in Siliguri following violence on Monday.: Passang Yolmo

Bireswar Banerjee And Avijit Sinha   |   TT   |   Siliguri   |    08.12.20  :  Violence and arson erupted on Monday during the BJP’s Uttarkanya Abhiyan, a protest march to the state’s branch secretariat here, as supporters clashed with police and the party leadership alleged that a BJP worker died of wounds from pellets fired by the law enforcers.

The BJP announced a 12-hour general strike across north Bengal on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to governor Jagdeep Dhankhar against “police atrocities”.

“Our workers will wear black badges and host candlelight marches across the state,” said Kailash Vijayvariya, a national general secretary and Bengal minder of the party.

A source in the BJP said that state party chief Dilip Ghosh received a call from the office of BJP national president J.P. Nadda, and asked to share details of Monday’s incident and the death of party worker Ulen Roy. Details were then conveyed to Union home minister Amit Shah’s office, the source added.

The police, however, tweeted on their official handle that they acted with restraint.

The police said in a tweet: “Today in Siliguri, serious acts of violence were committed by supporters of a political party during their protest programme. They resorted to arson, brick-batting, firing and vandalism of government property. Police showed restraint and didn’t do lathi charge or used firearms. Only water cannons and teargas were used to disperse the violent crowd. However, death of a person has been reported. Body is being sent for PM (post-mortem). The actual cause of death will be known only after the PM.”

Trinamul leader and minister Gautam Deb accused the BJP of “planned vandalism”.

 Since morning, hundreds of BJP supporters started assembling at Jalpai More and Fulbari in northern and southern sides of the Uttarkanya campus. On both sides, the police had put up barricades.

At Jalpai More, the BJP’s central and state party leaders and MPs delivered speeches. In the afternoon, they started towards Uttarkanya. A rally also started from Fulbari.

According to eyewitnesses, protesters removed two barricades en route to Uttarkanya from Jalpai More, and breached one more barricade near Fulbari.

Policemen made public announcements asking BJP supporters to leave, citing prohibitory orders. But as protesters targeted barricades, police fired water cannons and burst teargas shells.

Most dispersed, but some pelted stones and glass bottles at the police. The police retaliated with teargas.

Some supporters entered the traffic guard office of Siliguri Metropolitan Police at Jalpai More and ransacked it, setting ablaze office furniture on the road near Naukaghat More. Tyres were torched and some two-wheelers and shops were vandalised.

In Fulbari, protesters ransacked a state-run motel. They also set on fire barricades.

As supporters showed signs of regrouping and charged at barricades, policemen waved batons and burst teargas shells. Many protesters, including women, were arrested for perpetrating violence.

BJP state party president Ghosh said 65-year-old party worker Roy of Gajoldoba in Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district died of pellet injuries. “His injury marks suggest he was struck by pellets used in air guns. The police should clarify how he was hit by pellets,” Ghosh said.

Ghosh added: “This apart, at least 15 other supporters of ours are under treatment at the hospital with injuries, and many other supporters and leaders were beaten up.”

The leaders brought in outsiders and assembled anti-socials to create such a situation. If they try to foment tension in north Bengal, people will give them a fitting reply,” said state tourism minister and On BJP’s claim that one of their supporters died during the movement, Deb said it would be confirmed only after a proper inquiry.